Ohio EPA is celebrating National Drinking Water Week May 3-9, 2015, by inviting people to learn more about their public drinking water. Free resources are available online related to consumer confidence reports, drinking water advisories and plans for improved community drinking water systems.

More of Ohio’s public water systems are keeping their drinking water sources safe, as detailed in a new report compiled by Ohio EPA – just in time for National Ground Water Awareness Week – March 8-14.

Ohio EPA has awarded Norwalk one of the first grants to purchase testing equipment to monitor the city’s drinking water supply for cyanobacteria. Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler was in Norwalk today to award the grant and discuss how the state and communities are cooperating to protect local water supplies.

Ohio EPA has awarded Huron one of the first grants to purchase testing equipment to monitor the city’s drinking water supply for cyanobacteria. Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler was in Huron today to award the grant and discuss how the state and communities are cooperating to protect local water supplies.

Ohio EPA has awarded Avon Lake one of the first grants to purchase testing equipment to monitor the city’s drinking water supply for cyanobacteria. Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler was in Avon Lake today to award the grant and discuss how the state and communities are cooperating to protect local water supplies.

Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler visited the Richard Miller Treatment Plant today. Part of the Greater Cincinnati Water Works system, the Miller plant provides most of the water for the metropolitan area.

Ohio EPA is working with the U.S. Coast Guard, local officials and private sector clean-up contractors to begin cleaning up the spill of between 4,000 and 8,000 gallons of fuel oil into the Ohio River from Duke Energy’s Beckjord plant near New Richmond in Clermont County. An Ohio EPA on-scene coordinator reported to the scene early this morning to help oversee the cleanup and containment devices have been installed in the river.

Ohio EPA will hold a public information session and hearing at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, to present information and accept public comments on four draft permits for liquid waste injection at Vickery Environmental Inc. (VEI). The meeting will be held at the Sandusky County Board of Health, 2000 Countryside Drive, Fremont.

Following Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins’ decision this morning to lift the drinking water advisory which the city originally issued early Saturday morning, Gov. John R. Kasich and Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler stated support for the decision. Ohio EPA officials worked with city officials this morning to analyze the results of tests the city ran overnight and agreed with the city’s conclusion that Toledo’s water is safe to drink.

In a letter to Mayor Collins, Director Craig Butler confirms contaminants have been below the drinking water advisory threshold and recommends lifting the “Do Not Drink” advisory issued Aug. 2, 2014 at 2:00 a.m.

Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler is visiting sites and meeting with local officials in Toledo and Oregon today to get an update on local projects and emphasize Ohio’s focus on improving and protecting Lake Erie.

Communities seeking help with funding drinking water infrastructure projects for 2015 need to nominate their projects by March 1, 2014, to be considered for funding through Ohio EPA’s Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA).